Winning the toss and electing to bat on a typical Miller 1 belter, Cessnock were reeling at 3/35 off 11 overs, but enter Central North representative, Greg Sheehan, to play one of his best innings in recent years (87) to completely turn the game on its head.

Sheehan was supported well by Greta/Branxton captain Josh Dagg (39) in a momentum-changing 96-run partnership. When Sheehan fell just short of a well-deserved 100, Greg Andrews strode to the crease and picked up where he left off.

Andrews (78) and fellow Greta/Branxton player, Barry Richards (47no), continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and assist in Cessnock posting an extremely competitive 6/294 off their allocated 50 overs.

After some early struggles with the ball, Supporters opening bowler Nathan Stapleford (4/41) bowled like a man possessed to put the cleaners through Maitland top order. A great bowling partnership followed between Sheehan (3/34) and Bellbird’s Matt Tomlinson (1/38) which had Maitland struggling at 8/104.

Maitland’s captain Josh Callinan (62no) and young gun Pat Magann (28), put on a quality 101-run ninth-wicket partnership to put some nerves through the Cessnock camp before a run out again turned the momentum back to Cessnock.

With more than 500 runs scored in the day it was again a quality game of cricket between two competitive but respectful teams.

With this 96-run victory, Cessnock qualified first in pool A of the John Bull Shield and will take on the winner of Brisbane Waters and Newcastle C&S in the third round of the McDonalds Shield.

In junior representative news, Cessnock’s under-12s, 14s and 16s travelled to Scone to play Upper Hunter in round one of the junior competition.

Cessnock were extremely competitive against the strong Upper Hunter junior but were beaten in all ages.

Round two of the competition will be played this Sunday at Baddeley oval against Tamworth juniors. Those juniors interested in playing, please contact Brent Watson on 0401 579 577.